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With the global building stock expected to double by 2050, the built environment has an important role to play in reaching net zero goals. Carbon emissions produced during construction and operation both contribute to a building’s whole life carbon impact. Tackling both embodied and operational carbon is crucial to reduce carbon emissions in line with climate targets.
Knowing the difference between embodied carbon vs operational carbon in buildings is an important first step in enabling their decarbonisation. Greenhouse gases are emitted throughout a building’s lifecycle, from the raw materials used in construction, through to the electricity used to run the building, right up until the demolition phase. Embodied and operational carbon are the two measurements used to determine the whole life carbon impact of a building.
Embodied carbon refers to all CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the materials and construction of a building. This includes emissions resulting from the production, transportation, construction, maintenance and end of life processes of building materials.
Operational carbon refers to the emissions associated with energy used to operate the building or in the operation of the building, including heating, hot water, cooling, ventilation and lighting systems.
Carbon emission reduction is critical to meeting global climate targets, achieving net zero and limiting the effects of climate change and global warming. Rising temperatures, tropical storms, wildfires, melting ice caps and other unusual climate changes are a result of increasing CO2 emissions.
The World Green Building Council (WGBC) has a bold vision that by 2030, all new buildings, infrastructure and renovations will have at least 40% less embodied carbon with significant upfront carbon reduction, and all new buildings are net zero operational carbon. By 2050, both embodied and operational carbon should be net zero. As buildings are becoming more energy efficient, embodied carbon has moved a lot higher up the agenda for industry and governments worldwide. However, it is important to always maintain a holistic approach to ensure that the whole life carbon impact of a building is minimised as far as possible.
The built environment is currently responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions: 28% from operational emissions - energy needed to heat, cool and power buildings - and the remaining 11% from materials and construction.
There are several ways that organisations can reduce embodied carbon emissions in buildings:
1) Optimise design – clever architectural design can achieve the same functionality with less material, for example, smarter floor plans, efficient use of space and light, and lightweight building techniques.
2) Invest in technology - support the development and adoption of new, lower-carbon building materials and technologies.
3) Retrofit projects – repurposing buildings can save between 50–75% of embodied carbon emissions compared to new construction because most of the embodied carbon will already be accounted for, drastically reducing new emissions.
4) Low-carbon materials - concrete can be the biggest source of embodied carbon for a new site, but lower carbon concrete is easy to develop. Equally, aluminium, plastic and foam insulation all have high carbon footprints, whereas wood is a good alternative.
5) Salvaged materials – reusing materials such as brick, metal and wood can make a big difference to embodied carbon emissions. Brand new steel has an embodied carbon footprint five times greater than recycled steel.
6) Source locally - reduce transportation emissions by sourcing materials locally and use suppliers with transparent environmental practices.
Strategies to reduce operational carbon are often considered more manageable than embodied carbon reduction strategies, but still require careful consideration and analysis. By implementing energy efficient measures, such as energy efficient appliances, optimising insulation and integrating renewable energy sources, operational carbon can be significantly reduced. Some strategies that can help include:
1) Energy audits - conduct regular audits to identify appliances with high-energy consumption or inefficient systems, then invest in energy-efficient appliances, lighting systems and HVAC systems.
2) Optimise building systems - implement smart controls for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Install timers and occupancy sensors to minimise energy use when spaces are unoccupied.
3) Building envelope improvements - improve insulation in walls, ceilings and roof spaces to reduce heat transfer.
4) Renewable energy integration - install solar panels, wind turbines or geothermal systems to generate clean electricity and reduce reliance on the grid.
5) Ongoing performance monitoring – conduct ongoing monitoring and verification (M&V) of operational performance data to identify and target areas of energy waste. This can prevent operational drift and ensure the building continues to operate efficiently over time.
Digital twins provide exciting opportunities for achieving zero carbon and sustainability goals. IES’ digital twin technology combines physics-based simulation, real-time data, machine learning and AI to provide detailed insights across a range of building performance metrics. Empowering informed decisions on how to reduce energy, lower costs and reduce emissions across the building lifecycle.
Used by sustainable design experts worldwide, IES’ Virtual Environment (VE) is an in-depth suite of integrated analysis tools for the design and retrofit of buildings. The platform leverages a world-leading simulation engine to allow collaboration between architects, engineers and contractors, from concept design to operation, and can be integrated with other tools in IES’ digital twin suite to more accurately predict, monitor and verify the carbon impact of different building design and operational strategies.
The tools can support frameworks, such as CIBSE TM54, which provide industry guidance to help evaluate and more accurately predict the operational energy use of a building at the design stage. The methodology can be applied to new or existing buildings and recognises that a building’s energy performance depends heavily upon how a building is operated and maintained, not simply how it is designed and constructed. TM54 assessments can help to inform the development of the design and operational strategy, as well as enabling more accurate calculations of in-use performance, based on the anticipated use of the building and specific operating parameters. This can help to mitigate operational carbon emissions early within the design.
Through IES’ unique partnership with One Click LCA, embodied carbon calculations can also be integrated and streamlined as part of a whole-building performance approach. IES’s Navigator technology allows seamless integration from the One Click LCA platform to IESVE, making life cycle assessment and cost analyses easier than ever.
IES’ broader product suite supports accurate whole building performance simulation and ensures that operational emissions are minimised across the building lifecycle.
iSCAN, for example, can be used to conduct in-depth analysis of in-use performance data to help close the performance gap and improve in-use energy and carbon performance. The platform can also be used in conjunction with the VE to support analysis of retrofit or existing building projects, based on real energy demand profiles.
Meanwhile, IES Live, a cloud-based platform, forms a live connection between the building and the performance digital twin to provide actionable insights to keep buildings running optimally and on track towards net zero goals. This rich data model is calibrated and continuously updated with real-time data, leveraging dynamic simulation to provide an accurate baseline of how the building should be operating at all times. Providing a means with which to verify that any carbon reductions predicted during the design stage are realised in operation.
Sustainable building design requires tackling both embodied and operational carbon emissions to achieve net zero goals. The environmental impact of embodied carbon can be minimised in the building phase by using materials with lower carbon footprints and employing construction methods that reduce waste. Operational carbon can be minimised during a building's lifetime by designing energy-efficient buildings that reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions, and by ensuring they are operated and controlled optimally throughout their lifecycle.
Digital twin technology and energy modelling tools are essential for optimising both embodied and operational carbon reduction strategies and is likely to have significant impact in helping to achieve net zero in buildings by 2050.
Find out more about our integration with One Click LCA, explore our product range, or get in touch with our team to find out more.
